Bucks suspend Dalembert for game at Dallas

Associated Press

February 27, 2013 - 1:06 AM

DALLAS - The Milwaukee Bucks suspended center Samuel Dalembert for Tuesday's night's game at Dallas for an unspecified violation of team policy.

General manager John Hammond announced the penalty a few hours before the game. Bucks coach Jim Boylan did not give a reason for the suspension, but said it was more for a pattern of behavior and not one specific incident.

"It reached a point where something needed to be done," Boylan said. "So we decided that this was the appropriate action to take."

Dalembert is averaging 7.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and just 16.7 minutes per game this season. The 11th-year player came to the Bucks in a trade with Houston last summer and started 13 of the team's first 14 games.

With the emergence of Larry Sanders, Dalembert quickly saw his role reduced as he sat out 16 of 19 during a stretch that ended in early January.

Dalembert had a couple of very big games earlier this month while filling in for an injured Sanders. He also had 35 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to Denver on Feb. 5.

"Everybody on the team or involved with the team — players, coaches, staff — they have certain responsibilities to the team," Boylan said. "When those responsibilities aren't met, there are consequences. Sam has not met some of those."

The 31-year-old Dalembert is on his third team in three seasons after spending the first eight of his career with Philadelphia. He has career averages of 8.0 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Boylan said Ekpe Udoh would likely see some time at backup center in Dalembert's place against the Mavericks.